FirstEnergy review: high electric bill 23

I have been paying an average of about $215/per month for the last 8 months. I received this months billing and opened it and almost fell over. From $215.00 it shot right up to $480.00

I know that there was a marginal percentage increase which if my math is right is oh... $30.00 - $50.00 on a $215.00 current bill. Can someone please explain to me a 125% increase

The customer service rep stated that it was a colder than normal winter...? Winter sure, but March? are you kidding me. She gave me no explantion as to why my power usage had doubled. If anything in the last 3 months the t-stat is set to 65 F when no one is home between 7am - 6pm and 68-69F when we are there. She continued to state that maybe the appliances were defective. Yeah sure.. All my applicances pooled together and decided that in my NEW home of only 8 months old that it was time to fail.

My hot water heater is set on a very conservative 120*F and I change my HVA/C filters every 30 days regardless of what they look like. Is this just another example of supply and demand gone bad.

I live in Winchester and its the same story. This is something that we all need to get together and address. If anyone is interested in getting something started (petition, group, etc.), email me at holtcabin@comcast.net.
This is simply ridiculous!

I live in Front Royal and my Allegheny Power bills have skyrocketed to more than my house payment. I'm a widow living on social security and can't even begin to pay these horrible bills. I live in a very small house, less than a 1, 000 sg. ft. and keep the heat low in the winter and do not use the a.c. unless absolutely necessary in warm weather and use no more power than I typically have since I've been in this house which is 14 years and my bills have quadrupled and more, particularly within the past year. Allegheny Power has absolutely no interest in even trying to explain these outrageous bills...all they care about is getting every single cent they can. Something is terribly wrong here and I feel as if there's not a thing that can be done.

Our bill we just received this month was very high also. I asked them to come out and check our meter months ago, which they say they did, and I don't believe them. I told them I wanted to be here, but they didn't even do that. They charged me $20 to do this at that time. It is Allegheny Power Company. Please let me know if anyone else in Centre County is having this problem. I heard there was a company out there that will check your meter for free. Does anyoneo know who this is so I can contact them?

We live near Charles Town, WV. We recieved a bill that was triple our usual bill last February. I called and complained and was told that `they' would send someone to our residence to chat with us. No one ever came! Then I called and complained and they stated that they would send someone to read the meter. No one came. After numerous complaints, they stopped sending us a bill for 5 months and then when a reader finally did come, our meter had died and they had to replace it. Allegheny is a greedy, arrogant company that absolutely lacks customer service.

First, let me state unequivocally that I am NOT taking up for Allegheny Power. But I've read all these complaints, and have not yet seen anyone comment that they READ THERE OWN METER! It doesn't take long to check, and can help prevent things like this from happening. I read my own meter every other month and submit the reading online, rather than have them estimate it. It's on your bill what days to do it. Then the other months they (supposedly) send out a meter reader for their own "actual" reading. Yes, I caught them submitting a bogus reading on a bill. I caught it because I check my own meter, every month, and if their reading isn't within a few KWhrs of my own, I call them. The best way to keep these things from happening is to do a little monitoring yourself, and know exacly what you use. I do know of cases where AP was not actually reading the meters and their estimates were low for over a year, so when they finally did read the meter there was a very high bill. Sure, they don't want to admit it was their error, and it certainly does more than inconvenience the customer, but the usage had been there all along and the customer wasn't aware of it due to AP failing to read the meters regularly. It still boils down to self monitoring. I don't trust them, so I read the meter myself. If you can't do that, find a friend or family member that can.

I received my last bill and I have lived in my same residence (an apartment) since November 2002. (Apartment complex was brand new then and very well built, also). Also, I do not have a heat pump. My filter is replaced monthly. In addition; I am not on any budget plan where I could be hit with a higher "balloon" payment at some point. In the summer, it typically runs $83.00 to $87.00/month. This last bill was more than double - at about $197.00. It has never been that high in all these years. There has been no change in how the household is run. I complained to both Allegheny (in writing and on the phone) and to the Public Services Commission. Yes, I had my meter read by my trusted maintenance man after I complained and reported the figure (digital meter) back to Allegheny Power.

Anyway; just as one of the other commenters stated, Allegheny also gave me this nonsense about my water heater possibly "going" and gave me the same tired advice that we have all heard for years as consumers. Again, nothing has changed in my household as to how the electricity is used. All of my appliances were brand new as of November 2002 when I moved in and are "energy star" rated. In fact, I have had two appliances replaced with newer models while living here. Hence, my appliances are not defective. Allegheny Power obviously goes through a script of putting the onus on the customers (e.g., possible water heater going bad, leaking windows, etc.) when people call to complain. Anyway, Allegheny Power takes no responsibility for explaining the higher bills. Their "m.o." is simply to give us the same old tired tips for saving electricity and nothing positive results from any of this routine of which we are all subject.

I already wrote and posted my commentary.

WELL IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HEAR A KICKER...IM PAYING ANYWERE FROM 650 850 A MONTH FOR ELEC SERV DURNING THE WINTER MONTHES. THAT MOST PEOPLES RENT IN THE HAGERSTOWN MD AREA...COME ON NOW. HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL THEY STEAL FROM AND GET AWAY WITH IT?

One thing that I do know is that there was a "cap" put on A. Power from [protected] (the cap came off on Dec. 31, 2009) and they weren't supposedly allowed to raise your bill. Now they have raised it (what they are calling as softly) about 6-10%. A friend of ours also phoned them to find this out and also that next year in 2011 they will be raising it 60%! We all can't affort the 10% increase so how in the world do they expect us to pay 60%? It is an outrage! PLEASE SWAMP THE PHONE LINES OF YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND DEMAND THAT THEY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS! If we all band together maybe something good can come out of this horrible act of thievery!

Connie
Southwestern PA

I recently received my bills of $600 and i usually paid 200 - 250 monthly, so i called Allegheny Power and talk to the customer rep. she told me to double check my meter and do a panel check, to figure out which section use most electricity. so i did, and i call them back today. The meter reading wasn't much of a different than the last statement.She told me that its because of my heating system since it's been so cold this winter. I live in Maryland and I've been using my heat since october, and i never go over 70- 75 degree. And i haven't bought any new appliance in my home.There is no way, the bills could go that high, when I've been using the heat the same way i did few months earlier.I feel like we are being ripped off.. and there is no way I can afford to pay for this! When i ask the customer service rep. if there is anything they can work out for me, she told me either i could find a new place to live or turn down my heat.This is just plain ridiculous! I don't know how many people dealt with the same problem but this has got to stop.

Here's one for you. I pay my bill every month and this months bill said I owe $6, 855.00. I called thinking this was a mistake and they said that it was correct because they hadn't read the meter since October, 2008! No call or letter in the last 15 months to tell us they hadn't read the meter or that we needed to read it. When I asked what they could do, since obviously my 2-3 hundred dollar monthly payments haven't offset this, i got a big fat nothing. We live in a 3 bedroom house, always keep everything off as much as possible, heat and air low, etc. This is crazy. Called the Public Service Commission to see how this could possibly be correct. Haven't heard from them yet. This is very upsetting and I've been hearing lots of stories about how they work. Very scary since we obviously need electric.

if you are that much over usual an your neighbors, match your meter reading with what they are charging you, check to see if estimated, the reading is estimated every other month, if there is an issue with reading they are required to come read it by an employee if they refused call the puc they will be quick to fix your issue. I work for an energy company. If they wont fix it the puc will make them...good luck

Allegheny Power is definitely the rip off of the century with their $1200 estimate for one month. $300 a month to $1200 estimate for March is a bit of a leap even with a cold winter and/or ice age. $320 bill with a ten day power outtage. They are quick to rip us off fast and hard and with no end in sight. HELP US ALL. I say regulate the hell out of them.

I have used Allegheny Power since moving here in February. I am participating in the automatic payment plan so I never miss a bill and I'm never late. Every month my bills were estimated around $11 or $30, which I thought was a little low- but I knew they were just estimating and I should expect a bigger bill when they do the meter reading.
However, I am a single young professional female living in a TINY one bedroom, one floor apartment. Two days ago I checked my bank account and they had taken $1, 700 OUT OF MY BANK ACCOUNT!
Are you kidding me? $1, 700!? For one girl? I NEVER leave a light on in more than one room, I always decide what I want out of the fridge before opening it so I don't waste energy, I always unplug my appliances and I kept my heat on very low during the winter. I even plugged up all the holes and cracks in my old home with a foam gun.
I told my landlord and he thought it was ridiculous too and there must be a problem. (By the way- this bill is more than twice what I pay in rent). I called Allegheny and they said it must be due to my heat usage and that my apartment isn't very well insulated. It's complete bull. I'm so angry. I work for a non-profit making very little and struggle to stay independent. I'm so sad that people are so willing to screw people over.
I'm going to do something about this. When I get heated and passionate about something, I don't stop until something changes, so I will keep everyone posted.
Good luck with everyone else.

PS- I am checking my meter reading, just to be clear.

I am James Davis and I ran for governor of West Virginia in 2008: http://jamesdavisforgovernor.davis-publishing.com . Most of you may not know that because the Secretary of State, Mrs. Ireland, made sure that I was not on the ballot or my name even close to the voting booths. She even refunded my money, telling me that there was an error in my registration and the date passed for a new registration and she would put me on the Write-In ballot.

Throughout my campaign, I tried telling the people that the utility companies and PSC was robbing us blind. The local news stations and the local newspapers always cut that part out of my talk. There is a way we can stop the utility companies from sucking us dry and turn their shady dealings back on them. Go on this web site and read about solar panels: http://www.greenraysolar.com . You can hook those up to the grid and the power you don't use will go into the grid and start turning your meter backwards and in a very short period of time, Allegheny will have to start paying you for the energy you are putting into the grid.

In the last three years President Bush was in office, the utility companies requested from PSC and got 157% increase in rates through the 'Free Marketing System'.

I am thinking about running for governor of West Virginia again in 2012. If you want someone in that office that will put a stop to these companies ripping people off, then e-mail me at: DavisJms7@dslextreme.com and put in the subject line: James Davis For Governor in 2012 --and I will tell you what we will do to take back our money that has been stolen from us by big business and our government.

I was late three times this year because of high bills and they are demanding 400. deposit on top of my bill. I got a bill today of 987.00! I called and they are making me pay a deposit because after 45 years of service I never paid one.
And their isn't anything I can do to waive the deposit that I can not afford right now. They don't care. Dorris was so rude she acted like she owned the company and it was her company the way she was trying to collect this deposit from me. What a witch to deal with. Apollo PA

our average electric bill was about $250/mnth since we moved in last year in June we have a combo electric/oil heat (upstairs is a small electric furnace, downstairs is all heated by oil)
we received our monthly bill on Monday and both my husband and I flipped at the WHOPPING $1576.26 bill
they claim we used 17013kw in 27 days. For most of March I was in the hospital for chemo/radiation and heart problems. (even offered proof no-one was home since my family were in WV with me if they weren't in school/@work)
when I called and spoke to a Rep they said it may be a wronged meter reading and said they'd send someone out.
Today we got told to check all our appliances have, and to have our water heater/well pump checked (well pump has been off the whole time we've lived here and were told it hasn't been used in at least 5 yrs!) because since their reading on March 16th (1wk ago today) they claim we've used another 550Kw...and no-one's been home!
Kids were at school I was in WV and my husband works 12 hr shifts from 0800hrs to 2000hrs and goes to bed @ 2300hrs (with exception to occasional let nights on week-ends to play the Ps3) we don't share properties and live on a small farmette so no, there's no misterious wires running from my building that I notice.
then we get told "maybe the use of the Ps3 is the reason"...ummmyeah right!

I live in a 2 br apt, moved here in Nov, 2010. I put plastic on all the windows, a blanket down by the door. My electric bill was over $380.00! Heat set on 67. I was a little put off by that. Here it is 5/29/2011, heat has been turned off for over 3 weeks, the bill is $200? I really can't understand how this is possible? I lived in a 2 and 1/2 bedroom house and my bills were maybe 58.00, granted my furnace was gas. Never have my electric bills been like this. I called and questioned them and they told me that this was an actual reading, and that is what they usually run up in these apartments. I can't even put the air on in here because I'm affraid I won't be able to afford it! Sweating my but off up in here! Anyone have a plan as to how to stop this? E-mail me with suggestions! sheryld66@comcast.net. Write AP sucks in the subject line.

There is an easy fix to this. I had the same problem and I gave a call to the attorney general and he looked into it and now my bill has been cut in half. I suggest all of you do the same thing or the power company will continue to over-charge you knowing you have no other electric company to go to.

Allegheny Power does not read your meter most of the time. I was overcharged and decided to fight it by contacting the attorney general about my situation. Now my electric bill is half of what it used to be and I haven't cut back on electric use at all.

living here in central Pa we are having the same problems with the outrageous electric bills for January and February. What I have discovered is this, the variable rate is what got us, even if you were on a fixed rate.this is because you must renew your contract annually with your supplier and if you don't you are automatically switched to the variable rate. This is usually in the fine print.It's legal but not ethical. I'm afraid it all boils down to our elected officials not doing their job of looking out for us. RS